Arrow Spinoff Isn't Official Yet, Says Arrowverse Showrunner

The expected spinoff to the now-ended Arrow, Green Arrow and the Canaries hasn't yet been ordered to series, according to showrunner Beth Schwartz. There have been a number of ideas floated as to what will come next in the Arrowverse, with the original program in the universe having come to a conclusion a few weeks ago. Green Arrow and the Canaries became the torchbearer, with many expecting The CW to jump at the opportunity to keep many of the characters from Arrow in the fold going forward.

Momentum surrounding the possible spinoff accelerated after the penultimate episode of Arrow, which served as a "backdoor pilot" of sorts. The episode – titled "Green Arrow and the Canaries" – took place in the year 2040, with Mia having her old memories restored so she can take up the mantle of the Green Arrow. Beth Schwartz, who served as showrunner for the final two seasons of Arrow, served as one of the writers for the episode, one of three she wrote in the last season (with the season premiere and finale being the others). The episode was watched by 0.89 million viewers.

Despite not officially being picked up yet, there's a decent chance The CW is interested in furthering the universe Arrow created. There have already been two successful spinoffs of the program, with The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow in their sixth and fifth seasons, respectively. Superheroes have proven to be big business for the network, with Batwoman and Supergirl now part of the fold as well. Greenlighting Green Arrow and the Canaries would give The CW not only another superhero show, but another female-driven superhero show in a genre still dominated by male characters.

Giving the spinoff – which pulled in solid ratings in comparison to other Arrow season 8 episodes – a series order would likely be a prudent decision for The CW. Whether there's an appetite for more superhero series on the network remains to be seen, though, with Superman and Lois already receiving a series order ahead of the 2020-21 broadcast season. Green Arrow and the Canaries would be the closest descendant to Arrow, however, and that might be enough to get it across the finish line when The CW makes their final announcements about next year.